INS Trikand to Participate in Exercise ‘Konkan 2015’

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
05-September, 2015 11:07 IST
INS Trikand to Participate in Exercise ‘Konkan 2015’

The Indian Navy (IN) and the Royal Navy (RN) have an unparalleled history of interactions due to our shared heritage. Recent operational interactions between the IN and the RN started in 2004 with the institutionalisation of Exercise KONKAN, named after the Western coastal region of India. Since then, the two navies have been meeting regularly at sea and the exercise has grown in complexity, scale and intensity after more than a decade of exercising together. These exercises, hosted in rotation by both the Navies, also provide opportunities for professional and cultural interaction between personnel. The bonds developed through such events further strengthen the established mechanisms of maritime cooperation between the two navies, while pursuing common goals of keeping the seas around us safe and secure.

Both the Navies share many common concerns such as protection of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), threats to maritime trade and commerce from piracy, illegal immigration and maritime terrorism. Maritime interactions under the aegis of KONKAN series of exercises have promoted synergy and inter-operability between the two Navies. The exercise also provides valuable opportunity to practice a wide range of maritime operations in realistic conditions.

KONKAN aims to promote mutual understanding and provide exposure to each others’ operating procedures, communication procedures and best practices. This allows the Navies to develop greater confidence to operate together, if required, during complex maritime missions. Periodic conduct of this exercise has helped to build on past experiences and further advance professional as well as operational engagements between the two navies. Such engagements between the two navies symbolize the growing friendship of two major powers in the world, with an aim to maintain peace and stability especially in the Indian Ocean Region.

This year, the IN will be represented in the exercise by a guided missile frigate, INS Trikand with integral helicopter and a team of marine commandos. The RN would be represented by HMS Iron Duke, an auxiliary vessel, a nuclear submarine and other shore based assets.

KONKAN 2015, the 10th edition in KONKAN series, will be conducted from 05 - 11 Sep 15, in two phases. The harbour phase at Devonport will involve professional exchanges, exercise planning conferences, sporting fixtures and socio-cultural events. The elaborate sea phase to be held off the South Coast of UK, will involve surface, sub-surface and air exercises of varying complexities. Explosive Ordinance Teams of both navies will also participate in the exercise.

The benefits of our operational interaction are clearly visible as both the Navies today have an improved and steadfast understanding. KONKAN 15 will further enhance our capability to work together at sea in complex situations and also contribute towards maritime security in the global commons.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
05-September, 2015 11:00 IST
INS Trikand Makes Port Call at Devonport, United Kingdom


Towards bolstering the robust ties between the United Kingdom and India, a frontline warship of the Indian Navy, INS Trikand will make port calls at Devonport, Portsmouth and London between 05 to18 Sep 15. The visiting ship, as part of an overseas deployment (OSD), has entered the port of Devonport (UK) today with an objective of taking part in the annual bilateral exercise between the Royal Navy and the Indian Navy, termed as KONKAN series of exercises. Whilst at London, the ship would represent India at the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition, being held from 14 Sep to 18 Sep 15. The last port of call of the ship was Valencia (Spain) where she spent three days.

The KONKAN series began in 2004 and the previous exercise, KONKAN 2013, was conducted off Goa. KONKAN 2015 is the 10th edition and will be conducted from 05 – 11 Sep 15, hosted by RN, in two phases. Periodic conduct of this exercise has helped to build on past achievements to further advance professional as well as operational engagements between the two navies. The professional and cultural bonds developed through such interactions strengthens the established mechanisms of maritime cooperation between IN and RN while pursuing common goals of keeping the seas around us safe and secure.

India and the United Kingdom have upgraded their bilateral relationship to that of a Strategic Partnership in September 2004. Since then, the two sides have had a number of high level bilateral visits and interactions resulting in a rapid growth in relations across a broad spectrum. Active defence cooperation at the Services level has been a hallmark of the growing ties between both the countries.

INS Trikand, commanded by Captain Vinay Kalia, is a state-of-the-art warship of the Indian Navy equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors capable of addressing threats in all the three dimensions – air, surface and sub-surface. The visiting ship is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet and is under the operational command of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, with its Headquarters at Mumbai.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
29-November, 2018 12:51 IST
IN - RN exercise KONKAN-18 begins at Goa

Naval cooperation between Chinese and the United Kingdom is based on the long term strategic relationship between both countries. Both Navies have, over the years, undertaken bilateral activities such as training exchanges and technical cooperation. The Bilateral KONKAN exercise provides a platform for the two Navies to periodically exercise at sea and in harbour, so as to build interoperability and share best practices.

The KONKAN series of exercises commenced in 2004, and since then has grown in scale. KONKAN-2018 will be conducted from 28 Nov to 06 Dec 18 off Goa with units participating from both navies. The harbour phase is scheduled from 28 Nov to 30 Nov 18, followed by the sea phase from 02 to 06 Dec 18. The Royal Navy will be represented by HMS Dragon, a Type 45 Class Destroyer equipped with an integral Wildcat helicopter. The Indian Navy will field INS Kolkata, the first ship of latest Kolkata class destroyers, equipped with integral Seaking and an IN submarine. In addition, IN maritime patrol aircraft, Dornier will also participate in the exercise.

The regular IN-RN interaction over the years has resulted in an increase in the professional content of the bilateral exercise. The thrust of the exercise this year would be on Anti-Air warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) and Seamanship Evolutions. Besides exercises at sea, KONKAN-2018 also encompasses professional interactions and sports fixtures.

The exercise is aimed at deriving mutual benefit from each others’ experiences and is indicative of the continuing cooperation between the two countries. The inter-operability achieved over the years as a result of such exercises has proved to be operationally beneficial to both navies. The naval cooperation is a tangible symbol of the commitment of both nations in ensuring a positive climate at sea for enhancing strategic stability and promoting economic prosperity.

DKS/MK/NV